How to nurture your child's love of reading

By Regan McMahon, Common Sense Media

Updated 9:49 AM ET, Mon June 13, 2016

Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.

Photos:ALA youth media awards 2016

The winners of the 2016 Newbery, Caldecott, Printz, Coretta Scott King and other prestigious youth media awards were announced Monday, January 11, by the American Library Association. The John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature went to Matt de la Peña for "Last Stop on Market Street," illustrated by Christian Robinson. Click through the gallery to learn about the other 2016 award winners.

Hide Caption

1 of 24

Photos:ALA youth media awards 2016

The Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children: "Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear," illustrated by Sophie Blackall and written by Lindsay Mattick.

Hide Caption

2 of 24

Photos:ALA youth media awards 2016

Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award, recognizing an African-American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults: "Gone Crazy in Alabama," written by Rita Williams-Garcia.

Hide Caption

3 of 24

Photos:ALA youth media awards 2016

Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award: "Trombone Shorty," illustrated by Bryan Collier and written by Troy Andrews and Bill Taylor.

Hide Caption

4 of 24

Photos:ALA youth media awards 2016

Coretta Scott King - John Steptoe New Talent Author Award: "Hoodoo," written by Ronald L. Smith.

Hide Caption

5 of 24

Photos:ALA youth media awards 2016

Coretta Scott King - John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award: "Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement," illustrated by Ekua Holmes and written by Carole Boston Weatherford.

Hide Caption

6 of 24

Photos:ALA youth media awards 2016

Coretta Scott King - Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement: Jerry Pinkney. His book "The Tortoise & the Hare" is shown here.

Hide Caption

7 of 24

Photos:ALA youth media awards 2016

The Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults: David Levithan, whose books include "The Realm of Possibility," "Boy Meets Boy," "Love is the Higher Law," "How They Met, and Other Stories," "Wide Awake" and "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist."

Hide Caption

8 of 24

Photos:ALA youth media awards 2016

May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award recognizing an author, critic, librarian, historian or teacher of children's literature, who then presents a lecture at a winning host site: 2014 National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson will deliver the 2017 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture.

Pura Belpré (Author) Award: "Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir," written by Margarita Engle.

Hide Caption

11 of 24

Photos:ALA youth media awards 2016

The Laura Ingalls Wilder Award honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children: Jerry Pinkney, whose award-winning works include 2010 Caldecott Award-winning "The Lion and the Mouse."

Hide Caption

12 of 24

Photos:ALA youth media awards 2016

Stonewall Book Award - Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children's & Young Adult Literature Award given annually to English-language children's and young adult books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience had two winners. One was "George," written by Alex Gino.

Hide Caption

13 of 24

Photos:ALA youth media awards 2016

The other was "The Porcupine of Truth," written by Bill Konigsberg.

Hide Caption

14 of 24

Photos:ALA youth media awards 2016

Schneider Family Book Award, for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience. The best young children's book award went to "Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah," written by Laurie Ann Thompson and illustrated by Sean Qualls. The Schneider middle grade award went to "Fish in a Tree," written by Lynda Mullaly Hunt, and "The War that Saved My Life," written by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. The teen book award went to "The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B," written by Teresa Toten.

Hide Caption

15 of 24

Photos:ALA youth media awards 2016

Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults: "Bone Gap," written by Laura Ruby.

Hide Caption

16 of 24

Photos:ALA youth media awards 2016

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished beginning reader book: "Don't Throw It to Mo!," written by David A. Adler and illustrated by Sam Ricks.

Hide Caption

17 of 24

Photos:ALA youth media awards 2016

William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens: "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda," written by Becky Albertalli.

Hide Caption

18 of 24

Photos:ALA youth media awards 2016

Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children: "Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras," written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh.

Hide Caption

19 of 24

Photos:ALA youth media awards 2016

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults: "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War," written by Steve Sheinkin.

Hide Caption

20 of 24

Photos:ALA youth media awards 2016

Mildred L. Batchelder Award for an outstanding children's book translated from a foreign language and subsequently published in the United States: "The Wonderful Fluffy Little Squishy," which was originally published in French in 2014 as "Le merveilleux Dodu-Velu-Petit." It was written and illustrated by Beatrice Alemagna and translated by Claudia Zoe Bedrick.

Hide Caption

21 of 24

Photos:ALA youth media awards 2016

Odyssey Award for best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States: "The War that Saved My Life," written by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, narrated by Jayne Entwistle and produced by Listening Library.

Hide Caption

22 of 24

Photos:ALA youth media awards 2016

Alex Awards were given to the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences. "All Involved," by Ryan Gattis, is shown here. Others include "Between the World and Me," by Ta-Nehisi Coates; "Bones & All," by Camille DeAngelis; "Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits," by David Wong; and "Half the World," by Joe Abercrombie.

Hide Caption

23 of 24

Photos:ALA youth media awards 2016

Alex Awards were also given to "Girl at War," by Sara Nović; "Humans of New York: Stories," by Brandon Stanton; "Sacred Heart," by Liz Suburbia; "Undocumented: A Dominican Boy's Odyssey from a Homeless Shelter to the Ivy League," by Dan-el Padilla Peralta; and "The Unraveling of Mercy Louis," by Keija Parssinen.

Hide Caption

24 of 24

Story highlights

Kids enjoy being read to, for longer than you think

Count on the classics, but comics are fine, too

Kids become lifelong readers for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes there's one key book that captures a kid's imagination and opens him or her up to the exciting world of fiction. Other times, a teacher who assigns great books in class sparks a hunger for more big ideas and fine writing. In some cases, parents influence kids' appreciation of books by sharing their own love of literature and modeling reader behavior -- always having a book to read, taking books on vacation, reading before bedtime, making regular trips to the library and bookstore, etc.

Here are our best tips for nurturing a love of reading that can last a lifetime:

Read aloud: This comes naturally to lots of new parents, but it's important to keep it up. Kids will enjoy it longer than you think. When reading to babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and kids in early grade school, it's wonderful to have a kid on your lap, snuggled next to you on the couch, or drifting off to sleep in bed as you enjoy picture books together. You may have to read your kid's favorite a hundred times, but just go with it. Your kid will remember the closeness as well as the story. And try nonfiction for those who are curious about pirates, Vikings, robots, castles, history, sports, biography, animals, whatever. For second through fifth graders, read those rich and meaty books that might be missed otherwise, maybe classics like Treasure Island or Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Many parents think that as soon as their kids learn to read on their own, they no longer need to be read to. But kids still love it and benefit from it as they hear the rhythm of the language, learn correct pronunciation, and get to relax and just take it all in. Kids will get the idea that there's something worthwhile in books and that there's something special about time spent with a parent.

Savor the series: It's common for kids to become book lovers for life after getting hooked on a series. And there are lots of good ones that keep kids hungry for the next installment. Some reliable prospects: Ivy and Bean, Judy Moody for beginning readers; Harry Potter, A Series of Unfortunate Events, and the Percy Jackson for middle graders; and The Hunger Games, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and The Raven Cycle for older kids.

Grab onto a genre: Kids go through phases of genres they're passionate about, from girl detectives to science fiction and fantasy. Don't get hung up on whether it's considered great literature (although some genre books are). Be happy that your kid is devouring books one after the other.

Feed the favorite-author addiction: Once your kids finds a writer they love, they may want to read all of his or her books -- a great excuse for a trip to the library or an opportunity for book swapping among friends and classmates. Here are some good bets for favorites. Younger kids: Dav Pilkey (The Adventures of Captain Underpants), Beverly Cleary (Beezus and Ramona). Middle grade: Kate DiCamillo (Because of Winn-Dixie), Neil Gaiman (The Graveyard Book). Tweens and teens: Judy Blume (Are You There God, It's Me Margaret) and Sarah Dessen (Just Listen).

Count on the Classics: Books are called classics because they continue to engage readers generation after generation. There are no guarantees, but you could try introducing your kids to books you loved as a kid and see which ones click. Some good ones to try are the Dr. Seuss and Narnia books, Charlotte's Web, and The Secret Garden. Check out our Classic Books for Kids list to find more.

Find Books About the Things Your Kid Loves: If your kid adores horses, try Black Beauty or any of the titles on our list of best Horse Books. If he's wild about cars, trucks and trains, check out our list of Vehicle Books. Librarians, booksellers, and Internet searches will help you find books on any favorite topic.

Funny Is Fine: Some parents wrestle with letting their kids read Captain Underpants, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and other edgy humor books about kids getting in trouble. Talk to your kids about the content, but keep in mind that kids like these books not because they want to imitate the characters' actions but because they can live vicariously through their bad behavior. Humor is a great pathway to book loving.

Comics Are OK: Graphic novels are among the hottest trends in children's publishing, and they can get kids hooked on reading. Kids may start with Squish and Babymouse and move on to Diary of a Wimpy Kid. But these series can also lead to more sophisticated fare such as El Deafo, Boxers and Saints, and This One Summer. Find other titles in our list of best Graphic Novels.

Engage with ebooks: Kids can cuddle up with a Kindle, Nook, or iPad before naptime or bedtime. Some recent studies say more than half of U.S. kids are reading digital books at least once a week. The electronic format has proved to be especially engaging for boys and reluctant readers, and you can download or access many books on an ereader, which make it a great choice for air travel and car rides.

But note that some studies show that book apps and interactive "enhanced" ebooks, while fun, can be distracting and inhibit reading comprehension. So to promote reading skills and encourage your kid to be a frequent reader, you might want to stick with ebooks that have the look of a bound paper book. Some even have animation that mimics turning the pages.

Join the conversation

See the latest news and share your comments with CNN Health on Facebook and Twitter.

Make Reading a Family Value: Actions speak louder than words. Take your kids to the library once a week or once a month to get new books, make regular outings to your local bookstore, hunt for low-cost books at used bookstores or second-hand shops, and show kids that finding a good book is like a treasure hunt.

Fit reading into your family lifestyle. Set aside time for reading only -- turning off the TV, computer, and cell phone. Encourage focused reading time, either for independent reading or reading aloud. Take preschoolers to story time hours at libraries and bookstores. For older kids, a parent-kid book club can be fun. Read to kids at bedtime. Provide time and space for your kids to read for pleasure in the car (if they don't get car sick!), on vacation, after homework is done, on their own before bed. Warning: It could be habit-forming!